Russellville's boys soccer team seems to have Siloam Springs' number when the two teams play on the Panthers' home field.
The Cyclones became the first team to score on Siloam Springs during 5A/6A District 1 play, and Russellville rolled to a 4-1 victory to spoil Senior Night on Friday at Panther Stadium.
Russellville also defeated the Panthers 4-0 in last year's game in Siloam Springs, for a combined 8-1 in the last two meetings.
"They've had success against us here for some reason," said Siloam Springs head coach Brent Crenshaw. "Last year they were really all over us, but I thought tonight's score wasn't really a reflection of the game. They were better than us tonight, but we created some chances. We just couldn't finish them and they did."
The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for Siloam Springs and five-game stretch of not being scored on.
"I still think they're still one of the best teams in the state at the end of the day," Crenshaw said. "You just can't bring it every night. Tonight wasn't our night, so we'll go back and try again next week."
Russellville (12-4-1, 5-1) lost 1-0 to Siloam Springs on April 3 when the Panthers scored the game's only goal on a late penalty kick.
On Friday, the game began with an honorary kickoff for injured senior Aric Lee (ACL), who hasn't played this season.
The Cyclones took the early lead with 24:31 left when Wesley Robinson scored on a free kick from about 40 yards out for the game's first goal.
Russellville added a goal with just 24 seconds left before halftime when Siloam Springs was called for a handball in the box, and the Cyclones scored on the ensuing penalty kick by Gilles Jacquemin for a 2-0 lead at halftime.
The Panthers (10-5-3) tried to play more aggressive to start the second half and it backfired when Robinson broke loose for a breakaway goal a 3-0 Russellville lead just 26 seconds into the second half.
Siloam Springs got a goal back when Eli Jackson scored on a 40-yard free kick with 10:04 left in the game, but Russellville quickly answered when Jacquemin scored to the game's final goal.
"We were bitter about how things ended up at our place," said Russellville coach Jared Fuller. "We thought we played better, and they got a PK call, which it was a handball in the box. ... But yeah I'm proud of my guys for how they performed. We finally played up to expectations instead of underperforming."
As for the Cyclones' stellar play against Siloam Springs at Panther Stadium, Fuller said, "I think it's just the attitude we come in with. When we have a chip on our shoulder and want to perform well, we come out and we play hard and good things happen."
Siloam Springs 2, Greenwood 0
It was definitely a little strange for Luke Shoemaker, being on the opposite sideline at Panther Stadium on Tuesday night, but the first-year Greenwood coach was proud of how his team held up against his former team.
Siloam Springs scored a pair of goals in each half as the Panthers recorded their sixth straight victory and fifth shutout in a row in 5A/6A District 1 play.
It was also the Panthers' second 2-0 victory against Greenwood, having defeated the Bulldogs by the same score on March 30.
"It's weird to be in that locker room, on that sideline," said Shoemaker, who was an assistant coach for SSHS soccer program for four seasons. "It's weird to show up and see all the people and kids you coached and worked with and try to go beat them."
Christian Marroquin scored a first half goal off an Eli Jackson assist for the Panthers, while Danny Daugherty found the back of the net in the second half.
Siloam Springs head coach Brent Crenshaw was pleased with the Panthers' defensive play and their fifth straight clean sheet, outscoring their opponents 11-0 in that run.
Crenshaw also credited his former assistant for having Greenwood ready to play.
"Shoemaker has helped Greenwood tactically in my opinion," Crenshaw said. "Both times, we had things we had to talk about at halftime time and adjust to what he was doing. His kids play hard."
Up next
The Panthers play at Harrison at 4 p.m. Monday in a makeup game from the April 13 match that was postponed. Siloam Springs then plays at Dardanelle on Tuesday and wraps up regular season play at Clarksville on Thursday.
Sports on 04/22/2018